rivers and in the summer run dry. In the season of heaviest 

 rainfall or melting of snows these streams, as well as those 

 which are naturally intermittent, are eroding agents which 

 gradually gnaw at their banks until these cave in, thereby 

 reducing the area of cultivable soil. If these creeks are 

 treated by check dams, wing dams, and baffle dams at short 

 intervals, obstructing works such as are made by windfalls 

 and by beavers, logs and brush and straw lodged against a 

 crossing line of wire fence, flow is retarded and infiltration 

 promoted. In some instances backwaters and pools that will 

 last for a considerable period and be an attraction to wild 

 and domestic fowl, will be established. This practice is of 

 course not applicable to torrential streams. The latter 

 require more substantial works of stone or concrete. 



If such check-damming is part of a comprehensive scheme 

 of new farm practice, including restoration of forest and sod 

 cover, contour plowing, terracing and strip-cropping, and 

 especially if such comprehensive practices become general 

 throughout a community, a beginning is made of restoration 

 of some of these streams to something like the year-round 

 continuity of flow which existed before Man broke the balance 

 of natural arrangements. Continuity of small stream flow 

 makes possible the maintenance of backwaters and pools 

 which can be put to uses to be noted later. At this point 

 in the circulation of waters there is added through Man's 

 efforts a series of profitable uses of surface waters which 

 now are wasted. 



[6] Ponds and Reservoirs. 



Where circumstances permit, and in some sections of the 

 country circumstances are favorable on a considerable propor- 

 tion of the farms, individual farm reservoirs may be con- 

 structed. These may require in some instances engineering 

 counsel and designing, the provision of spillways and other 

 devices to prevent dams being washed out in flood-flow 

 season, although our nonprofessional, resourceful forefathers 

 built many a substantial dam. There is no good reason why 

 the profession of engineering should not lend its resources to 

 the promotion of such small works. An almost exclusive 



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